The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-04
BOUND TO BE CONTRARY.
Commissioner Edgerton Making Trouble
Lack of Harmony in the Board.

Commissioner EdgertOn Making Trouble
Lack of Harmony in the Board.
Washington Special
TIE closet which holds the family skeleton of
the Civil-service Commission has again been un-
locked. Some who did not know that the
commissioners have been at skies and sevens for
a year past has let the public into he secret
Edeerton. usual, appears the unquiet spirit
of the commission The other day when he was
in Indiana Lyman and Oberly called the secre-
tares of the local examining boards in half a
dozen cities together in Washington. Some
changes in the regulations were made, and o
committee of three, of which Harry Donovan
was a member was named to perfect the work.
This committee has had several meetings in
New York. When Edgsrton got back, two or
three days ago, the fact that the other commits
sioners had done something in his absence was
enough to set him against their action. He at
once denied the autority of what had been done,
and objected to paying out OF the appropriation
the expenses of the secretaries of local boards
recently summoned here for conference, holding
that the local boards are required for service in
their respective localities or States, and that
there is no legal authority to order them to duty
outside. He maintains. for instance that
local board appointed for service in New York
cannot legitmately discharge It's functions in
any other State outside of New York He
says the commission can legtimately 60 to the
local boards for conference, ETC., but cannot or
der these boards any members of them to
Washin gton for such purpose
The other two commissioners insist that the
examiners be ordered anywhere for duty.
They say that the appropriation for travelling
penses of the board is phrased to include the
penses of examiners under the orders of the
commission.
This difference of opinion exists in the board.
AS president Of the board Mr.. Edgerton must
sign all pay vouchers, and should he refuse to
sign those for the pay of the secretaries of the
local boards recently ordered here the matter
might be carried to the First Comptroller. But
Commissioners Oberly and Lyman constitute
majority, and it may be decided to let the a.
jorisy decide the point Edgerton went to Now
York to-day after telling everybody in effect
that he had merely sat down on Oberly ana Ly-
for engaging in more fooshness-
They are in their usual deprecatory mood and
are fearful that exaggerated stories may get out.
Lest il be understood that the commission does
nothing at all they wish it known that Mr.. Ed
gerton spends about two-thirds of his time at
his home in Indiana drawing his salary,
and in these periods the of the
commission Is DONE Privately, but not for
publication, they want everybody to be char
liable to Mr. Edgerton because he is an old
man, with old mans stubbornness. 1t is
true that Mr.. Edgerton's presence the
board keeps the commission from doing thing
useful. Last April he and Commissioner Lyman
Investigated the Chicago postoffice and custom
house, but no report has yet been made and none
will be, because the two cannot agree. And this
Is only one of a dozen instances. Commissioner
Edgerton's chief delight is in telling people how
little the Civil-service Commission amounts to.
Once in awhile some guileless person writes IN
der the idea that it really has powers of some
sort, and letters of this kind are Mr.. E6gertons
property. he goes for the innocent inquirer in
his best style. The President has known for
at war with itself, but be has taken no steps to
effect a reorganization 1t answers every pur-
pose of show that the mugwumps wish. While
both Oberly and Lyman want to be rid OF Mr..